Ice-cream freezer



Feb. 13, 1951 N. E. GADDINI ICE CREAM FREEZER Filed Nov. 15, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheen l L J mzw wa /w ATTORNEYS N. E. GADDlNl ICE CREAM FREEZER F EB Q I s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1948 R O m E V m W15, Ga

7 .f E law/ ivi WULL/EZJ N. E. GADDlNl ICE CREAM F'RE Feb. 13,1951

EZER

Filed Nov. 15, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 R m m y mvlllll l l lll ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT )1 rice ICE-CREAM FREEZER N airman E. Gaddiiu', Winters; Calif. Application November 15, 1948-, SerialNo."60;I46-' Theipresent invention-relates .to, and it is .:an object to provide, a novel method :and. device for rapidly freezing ice. cream, sherbets, and: similar frozenmixtureswhich require continuous agitation-bye dasher to' yieldia smooth product.

Another object-of the .inventionis to provide a power driven, ice-cream freezer whichiaccom- 'plishes thelf-ree'zingof the-mix by the novel use ofthe frigid :-air in a commercial frozen locker room,- orin a home-type freezingllocker, in-which the device is disposed for operation; the frigid air bein'g blower -fed -over a 'finned pail in which the mixis contained,"and' said pail and avdasher therein being relatively rotated during -saidioperseen,

-A -f.u-rther object of the invention is to provide an ice cream freezer as :abov'e; which thus :elimihates the need of commercial refrigeration brines, or home-made -sa1t and'ice -mixtures;-:as the f-reezin 'g me'dium.

' ,An additional object of the invention' isto providea power-driven ic'e cream freezer which includes automatic shut-off mechanism which :func-, tions when the ice cream mix freezes to "a certain thick 'orhe a-vy consistency; such mechanism being I "responsive to predetermined relative resistance, between the pail and dasher', -=imposed"by said fibZri-nliXE lSt is a lso' an objec'tnof the invention to-produce a power di iven ice cream" freezer which is of simple-design, capable' o'f manufacture-economicall-y; the devioe'being readily portable; and 'constructed so*asto-reduire a minimum'of servicing or repair.

-A further object ofthe-invention is-to provide v aFplr'acti'cal and convenient ice cream-freezer, and onewhich will-beeXceedingl-y effective for the purpose of which it is-designed.

These objects are accomplished by means 9 of such structure andrelative arrangement of parts aswill fully appea rfby a perusal-of the following specificationand claimsj In the dra-wingsi V Fig. l is a side-elevation of the ice cream;fre ez er with the hinged top arm in its raised position. i Fig. 2 is an enlarged" sectional elevation of the ic'efcream freezer. i M I Fig. 4 is asection'al 'elevation'of a 'modi'fiedityp'e of the ice cream freezer.

.IFig.j5' is a.fragmentaryelevation, on reduced scale, of one side of the ficeacream'freezershown in Fig, 4. 7 I V vReferringflnov'v 'more particularly to the chara'ctersof reference on' the drawings, and particuisclaims. (01.62-114) larly at present tor1Figs*.11e.3,. theicecream freezer comprises a", hollow upstanding. base housing I which includesiabottomil; there being an up standing .pos'titat the. rear of theqbase housing I. The. post .3'liS'fChaI1IlBl-1ike and opensgforwardly for the purpose hereinafter" described, .andat its lower e-ndisaid channela-likexpost 3:;is incomml nication withithe. base housing; I.

Anelectric. r'notor A is mountediin'the base housing l intermediate'itszends'; such motor havinga rearwardly projecting shaftt'rzfitted with asqu r: rel cage blower-'26: which-cooperates" with anz-atir entry-port l in-tthesback :of th'ezloase housing;

Upon actuation'lof the. motor A: .the blower-p5 functions to:' drawxair through :the portal and to feed saidq air as a continuous :stream upwardly in the .channel like post 3.;atherebeinga plurality of vertically' space'd deflectors ;8 in said'zpost opera?- tive to divert-theair- 'flow fromit upward direction of travel from the:b1-ower: -B,:to a plurality of forward paths inplanes aboveithe base housing .1 The path of :air 'flow'is'jindicated by arrows in Fig. 2.

At its forward end thefimotor '4? isafittedwith, and drives; a reduction gearbox .9 having a vertical outputshaft extending upwardly therefrom through -the to and above-such top-' l-fthe "shaft J 0 isfitted "with a turntable l2. v 1

The numeral "l;3 indicates 'an upstanding cylindrical pail formed; ex teriorlyfrom top to bottom, with a multiplicity of circumferential fins vl 3vdisposed in vertically-spacedrelation.

'The'top 0f 'the pail l3is adapted-to be closed by a lid l5 removably hel'd i-ii 'plaoe-by= a -plura1ity o'fcircumferentially spaced wing nut units 5 3.

Adasher -l-'| i -disposed i=n -thepail I 3 and" is carried by acentral"upstandingdasher post it which projects thfroug'h' a packing: gland 9- cen trally on the lid '15; :Abovethe packing'gland 'I-9-, the 'da sher post [8 is *fornied with--a' squareupper end portion 20. I I v The dasher l 1 -r unsjat is outer vertical edges, in relatively close relation to the sides-of the pail l3, and "saididaisher isslotte'dirf a-rnan er; as-shown; toteridtowbzkthemix in the pail' wardly from-its sidesr- 'Wher'r'fthe devicei'is ill 'use th'e pai'l s seated on the turntable t2 arr downward-1y projecting" detents 2 I on the" bottom' 1 of "the pail re ceived' in 'matching' socketsfzz irrthe turntable !Z. This arrangement notion-1y centers-the pail 31011 the turntable I 2; but as'sures' of positive i Q '1t 1 ?"1?fli -To w. 7

At its upper end the" post L 3is' "connected by a" l l (if-the base hciusin'g I .l,

3 transverse pivot 23 to the rear end of a hinged top arm 24 adapted to swing between a raised, forwardly and upwardly inclined position, as in Fig. l, and a lowered, forwardly projecting horizontal position, as in Fig. 2.

When the top arm 24 is in its lowered position, the upwardly projecting square, upper end portion of the dasher post l8 engages in matching relation in a non-circular socket 25 formed in downwardly opening relation in a rotatably mounted head 25. The rotatably mounted head 26 is normally yieldably held against rotation by a helical torsion spring 29 which is affixed, at one end, to, and extends axially above, said head 25. At its upper end the helical torsion spring 29 connects to an adjustable but normally stationary head 30 carried by a nut locked bolt 3 l With the above arrangement the head 26 normally holds the dasher I! against rotation while the finned pail I3 is rotated thereabout by the motor driven turntable !2.

Below the bottom 28 of the top arm 24 the head 25 includes a radial, rearwardly extending switch finger 32 which is disposed for limited play between a pair of stops 33 which depend from said bottom 28; the helical torsion spring 29 normally acting to hold the switch control finger 32 against one of the stops 33, as in Fig. 3.

At its free end, which projects into the channel-like post 3, the switch control finger 32 is formed and disposed for actuating a snap action switch unit, indicated generally at 35, which switch unit'controls operation of the motor 4. The snap action switch unit 34 is normally closed, as in full lines in Fig. 3, and includes an upstanding switch lever 35 pivoted, intermediate its ends, as at 36, to the post 3; there being a tension spring 3'! connected in snap action relation to the switch lever 35. Said switch lever is fitted with a mercury switch 33, which switch is interposed in the circuit for motor 4 and is normally closed when the switch lever 35 is in its full line position of Fig. 3, wherein said lever then rests against a stop 33.

When the switch lever 35 is tripped from its normal position beyond dead-center to its other position, as in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the mercury switch 38 is open and the lever 35 rests against another stop 40.

At its lower end the switch lever 35 includes a horizontal, rearwardly projecting switch handle 4| which extends through a slot 42 in the back of the post 3 for manual actuation.

The above described ice cream freezer is used in the following manner:

The pail i3, which includes a bail 43 for convenience of handling, is filled with a quantity of ice cream mix and is disposed on the turntable l2 in proper position. Then the top arm 24 is lowered to its horizontal position to engage the square upper end portion 20 of dasher post [8 in socket 25 of the head 25.

The device is then placed in an enclosure having zero or below zero temperature air therein; such enclosure being a commercial freezing locker room, or a freezing locker of home type. With the device in such an enclosure the motor 4 is placed in operation by proper manipulation of the switch handle 4|, which disposes the snap action switch unit 34 with the mercury switch 38 closed. This results in simultaneous drive of the squirrel cage blower 6 and rotation of the turntable l2 and supported finned pail [3. Consequently, as the finned pail rotates, a stream of frigid air is drawn into the device and fed upwardly in the channel-like post 3 by blower 6, and is thence diverted by deflectors 8 directly into engagement with and about the finned pail l3. This accomplishes a very effective and rapid heat exchange, causing freezing of the ice cream mix in the pail l3 much faster than otherwise possible.

With rotation of the finned pail 13 about the normally stationary dasher ll, the ice cream mix is thoroughly agitated, as is necessary to the production of smooth ice cream.

As the ice cream mix in the pail freezes to a predetermined consistency or thickness, there is a resultant relative resistance to rotation between the pail l3 and dasher H, which urges said dasher I! in a rotative direction against the torsion of the spring 29. As such relative resistance to rotation increases there is a gradual rotation of the head 25, swinging the switch control finger l3 between the stops 33, whereupon said finger 32 engages the lever 35 and actuates the snap action switch unit 34 to open position.

This breaks the circuit for the motor 3, and the latter ceases to operate. In this manner there is an automatic shut off of the device when the ice cream mix in the pail l3 freezes to the desired thickness.

Thereafter the pail l3, and included dasher l1, may be removed from the remainder of the device for completion of freezing, and storage, of the ice cream.

Alternatively, as for home use, the pail l3 may remain on the turntable l2 for the remaining freezing period.

It is contemplated that for commercial installation one of the devices will have a multiplicity of the pails 13, with included dashers l1, so that production of ice cream may be carried out on a relatively continuous basis.

The described ice cream freezer not only functions rapidly and eifectively, but produces a better ice cream than is accomplished by commercial refrigeration brines, or by home made salt and ice mixtures as the freezing medium.

The device is readily portable and handy to use; there being no mechanism requiring more than minimum servicing.

In Figs. 4 and 5 there is illustrated another embodiment of the invention, wherein the freezing of the mix is likewise accomplished by frigid air blower-fed over a finned pail, wherein there is relative rotation between the pail and an internal dasher. In this embodiment the structure is as follows:

The numeral 44 indicates a cylindrical upstanding pail formed, in integral relation thereabout, with a multiplicity of vertically extending, radiating fins 45; the pail with projecting fins forming its own support.

At the top the pail 44 is closed by a removable lid 46-, and a dasher 41 is disposed in the pail, being supported for rotation by a dasher post 48. The upper end portion of the dasher post projects above the lid 48 and is there squared, as at 49. 7

An upstanding cylindrical housing 55 is downwardly outwardly flanged at its lower edge, as at 5|, for engagement in locating relation on the upper end of the assembly of fins 45; the housing 50 thus being removably supported above the pail 44 in concentric relation thereto. The housing 50 includes a cap 52 formed with a circumferential row of slots 53.

In spaced relation below the cap 52, and within the housing 50, in concentric relation, there is gs new incurit;eu a-verti ca1 sleeve 54; such sleeve being cu'rd a vertical axis blower or fan 58 formed so upon rotation of said fan it sucks air through theslot's 53 and discharges the air downwar'dly inthe passage "59 which exists between said sleeve 54 andthe housin'gSi). From the passa'gs 59 the air flows downwardly alongside the pail 44 between the fins 45, as indicated bythe arrows in Fig. 4.

' ntnsiower end the motor 5 6 drives a reduc- -'-tiongear train 61! disposed in the sleeve 54, and -urnsuch"-gear'-train rotates *a downwardly nmgsocket headt! which'rece'ives' the square npper en'd portion 49 of the' dasher post 48 iiiatching" relation."

The automatic shut-oif mechanism in this "em- --bodi'nient comprises a normally fixed' but rotata- 'l5""adjustable 'shaft 62 extending between the A ing 56 and-sleev-54 some distance above their "lower ends. A depending switch control finger 63 is swingably mounted in connection with the-shaft 62- 'and depends to a point between ad- '{iac'en't ones of the "finsdSl The depending switch control finger 63 is normally maintained against "it top td by' means era helical torsion spring $5 eonnected bet-ween shaft 32- and said finger. A push buttbn or micro switch 66 is mounted in-the "neusing s's adjacent the finger 53, and on the side opposite the stop 64; the switch 65 normally being spacedsomewhat fromsuch finger.

In'use of the embodiment-shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and as-describedabove, the pail 44- first hasa duantity of ice cream mix placed therein, and then the lid 451s disposed in place. Phence the housingiflgwithits included mechanism, is set on top-ofthe pail and fin assembly, as shown, with the-squared upper end portion is of'the dasher po st4 8 disposed in the socket head 6i.

A handle "5 on the housing 53 facilitates its inanipuI-atiOn.

" With the device thus "assembled, it is placed in an enclosure wherein the air is frigid, such as a commercial locker room or a home type freezer locken With 'the'device so disposed the electric motor 55 is placed in operation, which simulta heously drives the dasher il, rotating it in the pail 44, and causing a flow of frigid air dowm war dly ffr'o r nthe fan 58,- 'thro ugh passage 59, and betweenthefins 45 With the frigid air thus flt'vwing there isa rapid heat exchange from the pa 14:4; whereby freezing of the mix therein resins in a relatively short time, in substantially the same way as described in connection'with the enflbodimentof Figs. 1-3, inclusive.

When the mix freezes to a predetermined consistency or thickness, the resultant resistance to relative rotation between the dasher 47 and pail "44 causes the housing 50 to turn relatively on the finned pail. This results in thedepending switch control finger 63, which is engaged by'one of the fins '45, swinging toward, engaging, and opening the'switch G6; the latter being normally closed and 'interposfledin the circuit for the motor 56. this manner there is an automatic stopping of t e m'o to'r 56.

After the freezing operation, and to gain ac cess, into the pants, it is onlynecessary to ree the housing 5 8 by means of handle '67,

whereupoiifaccess to 4B is obtained. From the foregoing description, it w ill"be"read ily "seen thatthere has been produced "s'u'che fi evi'ceas substantially fulfills the objects "of the in-ve tion, as set'ferth herein.

'iiv l'i'ile 'this specification sets forth'i-n detail the present and preferred construction ofthe device, stillin practice such "deviations f-r-oin such detail may beresortedto as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by theappended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the {followin'g is claimed as new and useful, and-upon 'which'Letters Patent are desired:

1. An ice cream freezer adapted to iunc-tion i-n an enclosure-wherein the air is frigid,- comprising "a pail fQrice cream mix, a dasher in the pail, andfpower drive meansoperative to cause relative'rotation betweenthe pail and dasher, 'an'd to simultaneously blow a streampf said *frigid air 'ihenails '2 'A'n ice cream freezer adapted tciun'ction in "an'enclosure 'wher'einthe air is frigid, comprising 'a'lp'ail 'for ice cream mix, a dashe'r in the pail, and power drive means operative to cause 'r ela' tive rotation between the pail and 'dasher, and to simultaneously blow a stream of said frigid air onto the pail; the latter having a plurality of. exterior fins in the-path of said stream of frigid air.

An ice cream freezer, as in claim 2, inwhich said pail is upright and the finshorizontal in 'verticallyspaced relation; thestream of-air being directed generally horizontally onto thefinned 'pa' a An'ice cream freezer; as in claim 2, in which the pail is upright and the 'fin 'verti'cal in circumferentially spaced relation; the streamofair being directed generally vertically onto the finneii pail;

5. An ice cream freezer adapted to function 'in an enclosure wherein 'the'air is frigid, 3co 'm prising a pail for ice cream mix, a 'das her infthe pail, power drive means arranged to cause relativerota'tion between the pailand dash'er, J means operative to blow a. stream of said frigid aironto the pail; said power drive'means including'a'turntable on which th'ei'pail isdis'p'osed, and a; holding device coupled to the dasher to nor- Th'ally prevent its rotation. I 6. An, ice cream freezer 'adapted'tc "function in, an'enclosure'wherein the 'air is 'frigid,jcomprising Ta pail for 'ice cream mix, a dasher in" the I'p'ail, power drive means arranged tocauselrel'ar itive rotation between'the pail and slasher, and "mean's'operative to blow a stream'of saidirigfijd air-onto the pail; said p wer. drive means i mainga turntable on whichth'e pail is disposed, a holding device coupledto the dasher to normally prevent its rotationysaid holding device being yieldable upon predeterminedresistance to rela tive'rotation betweenthe pail and 'dasher resulting from freezing of ice cream mixin' saidfpa il to a certain thickness, and mechanism responsive -to-"yielding of theholding device operative to shut offthedrive means.

'7: An ice cream freezer adapted to function in an enclosure wherein the air is frigid, comprising-a pail for ice. cream mix, a dasher inithe pail, power. drive meansarranged to causeirelative rotation between the pail and dashenrand means operative: to blow .a stream of' saidv frigid air onto the pail; said power drive means rotat; ing the pail about the; dasher, a holding device coupled tothe dasher to normally prevent its rotation, said holding devicebeing yieldable upon predetermined resistance to relative rotation be; tween the pail and dasher resulting from freezing of ice cream mix in said pail to a certain thickness, and mechanism responsive to yielding of the holding device operative to shut off the drive means.

8. An ice cream freezer adapted to function in an enclosure wherein the air is frigid, compristo blow a stream of said frigid air onto the pail;

said power drive means rotating the dasher in the pail, and mechanism response to predetermined resistance to relative rotation between the pail and dasher resulting from freezing of ice cream mix in said pail to a certain thickness, operative to shut off said power drive means.

- 7 9. An ice cream freezer adapted to function in an enclosure wherein the air is frigid, comprising a hollow base housing, a motor in the base housing having a shaft projecting upward therethrough, a turntable on the shaft above the base housing, an exteriorly finned pail removably disposed on the turntable for rotation therewith, a dasher in the pail including a dasher post projecting above said pail, a holding device cooperating with the projecting upper end portion of the dasher post to normally prevent its rotation, and means operative to blow a stream of said frigid air onto the pail.

10. An ice cream freezer adapted to function in an enclosure wherein the air is frigid, comprising a hollow base housing, a motor in the base housing having a shaft projecting upward therethrough, a turntable on the shaft above the base housing, an exteriorly finned pail removably disposed on the turntable for rotation therewith, a dasher in the pail including a dasher post projecting above said pail, a holding device cooperating with the projecting upper end portion of the dasher post to normally prevent its rotation, and means operative to blow a stream of said frigid air onto the pail; said last named means including an upstanding channel-shaped post on the base housing opening toward the pail, a

blower driven by said motor operative to feed said stream upward in the post, and deflectors in the post positioned to deflect the stream of air onto the finned pail.

11. An ice cream freezer adapted to function in an enclosure wherein the air is frigid, comprising a base, a motor driven turntable above the base, a post upstanding from the base clear of the turntable, a hinged top arm on the post movable between a raised and a lowered position, an exteriorly finned pail removably disposed in the turntable for rotation therewith, a dasher in the pail including a dasher post projecting above said pail, and a holding device on the hinged top arm releasably engaging the projecting upper end of the-dasher post when said arm is in lowered position whereby to normally prevent rotation of the dasher post and dasher; said holding device including a socketed, dasher post receiving head yieldable in a rotary direction upon predetermined resistance to relative rotation between the pail and dasher resulting from freezing of ice cream mix in said pail to a certain thickness, and mechanism responsive to said rotary yielding of the head to shut off said motor driven turntable.

switch control finger radiating from said head and positioned to engage and open the switch upon predetermined rotation of the head.

13. An ice cream freezer adapted to function in an enclosure wherein the air is frigid, comprising a hollow base housing, an electric motor unit in the base housing, a turntable above the base housing driven by the motor unit, a finned pail removably disposed on the turntable for rotation therewith, a blower in the base housing driven by the motor unit, a post upstanding from the base housing clear of the pail, passage means in part in the post operative to deliver a stream of frigid air from the blower onto the finned pail, the pail including a dasher having an upwardly projecting dasher rod, a hinged top arm projecting from the post in overhanging relation to the pail, and a holding device on the top arm releasably engaging the adjacent projecting end of the dasher post to normally prevent its rotation.

14. An ice cream freezer adapted to function in an enclosure wherein the air is frigid, comprising a hollow base housing, an electric motor unit in the base housing, a turntable above the base housing driven by the motor unit, a finned pail removably disposed on the turntable for rotation therewith, a blower in the base housing driven by the motor unit, a post upstanding from the base housing clear of the pail, passage means in part in the post operative to deliver a stream of frigid air from the blower onto the finned pail, the pail including a dasher having an upwardly projecting dasher post, a hinged top arm projecting from the post in overhanging relation to the pail, and a holding device on the top arm releasably engaging the adjacent projecting end of the dasher post to normally prevent its rotation; said holding device including a socket head cooperating with said adjacent projecting end of the dasher post, said head being yieldable in a rotary direction upon predetermined resistance to relative rotation between the pail and dasher resulting from freezing of ice cream mix in said pail to a certain thickness, a radial finger on the head, and a normally closed motor control switch in the path of motion of said finger whereby upon yielding and rotation of the head in said direction, the finger engages and opens the switch.

15. An ice cream freezer adapted to function in an enclosure wherein the air is frigid, comprising a finned pail having a dasher therein including an upper projecting dasher post, and a combination dasher post drive and fan unit adapted to releasably seat on top of the finned pail in driving connection with the projecting dasher post, and operative to simultaneously direct a stream of frigid air onto the finned pail.

16. An ice cream freez;r adapted to function in an enclosure wherein the air is frigid, comprising a finned pail having a dasher therein including an upper projecting dasher post, and a combination dasher post drive and fan unit adapted to releasably seat on top of the finned pail in driving connection with the projecting dasher post, and operative to simultaneously direct a stream'of frigid air onto the finned pail; there being means responsive to predetermined resistance to relative rotation between the pail and dasher resulting from freezing of ice cream mix in said pail to a certain thickness operative to shutoff said drive and fan unit.

17. An ice cream freez;r adapted to function in an enclosure wherein the air is frigid, com-- prising a finned pail having a dasher therein ncluding an upper projecting dasher post, an

upstanding housing releasably seated on top of the finned pail, the fins of the pail being vertical, a motor unit in the housing, a socket head in the housing driven by the motor unit, the projecting dasher post releasably engaging in said socket head, and a motor unit driven fan in the housing operative to direct a stream of frigid air downwardly between said vertical fins.

18. An ice cream freezer adapted to function in an enclosure wherein the air is frigid, comprising a finned pail having a dasher therein including an upper projecting dasher post, an upstanding housing releasably seated on top of the finned pail, the fins of the pail being vertical, a motor unit in the housing, a socket head in the housing driven by the vmotor unit, the projecting dasher post releasably engaging in said socket head, and a motor unit driven fan in the housing operative to direct a stream of frigid air downwardly between said vertical fins; predetermined REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,956,322 Grant Apr. 24, 1934 1,978,176 Stemstrup Oct. 23, 1934 1,981,009 Torson Nov. 20, 1934 2,053,520 Eisenmann Sept. 8, 1936 

